Glass & Brass

[wolcottdigger]

Glass & Brass

I found this in my sisters yard her house was built in 1859.
I thought it was some kind of light bulb at first but no wire
comes through the glass. it says "Pat. No. 1710646" the
glass is 1/8" thick and the metal seems to be brass.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Minelab PRO-FIND 35 Waterproof Pinpointer Metal Detector for Experts with Tone ID & Adjustable Sensitivity - Grab it through Amazon!

[Rancho Leo]

Re: Glass & Brass

looks like a broken glass door knob

HH

 

[johnnyi]

Re: Glass & Brass

Actually I think the patent refers not so much to the float, but to the gimmick that attached a rod to a float (but which mechanism could be also used for other objects other than a float) . It seems to be it is the connection itself that is patented, same as this one.

 

[wolcottdigger]

Re: Glass & Brass

I'm not sure about the doorknob but it could be.
I think johnnyi is right the patent number is for the
metal part with the threads but I wonder if there
were glass toilet floats at one time. When I gave it
a good look I can see it is for attaching some kind
of threaded rod to a glass ball without putting a
hole in the glass. That way the glass ball wouldnt
be able to fill with water because it is one piece.
It's just a guess, has anyone herd of glass toilet
floats.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Glass & Brass

I'm not sure about the doorknob but it could be.
I think johnnyi is right the patent number is for the
metal part with the threads but I wonder if there
were glass toilet floats at one time. When I gave it
a good look I can see it is for attaching some kind
of threaded rod to a glass ball without putting a
hole in the glass. That way the glass ball wouldnt
be able to fill with water because it is one piece.
It's just a guess, has anyone herd of glass toilet
floats.

I agree, I think its a glass toilet float, although I have never seen one. http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-Glass-Toile...rden?hash=item4cea89b76e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[johnnyi]

Re: Glass & Brass

I don't think it is a toilet float fellers. The patent discription is pretty specific that this was designed in part so a toilet bowl float would not have to be pierced when the rod is attached. Ity implied metal to metal. That wouldn't seem to be a necessary factor if such a float was made of glass.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Glass & Brass

I don't think it is a toilet float fellers. The patent discription is pretty specific that this was designed in part so a toilet bowl float would not have to be pierced when the rod is attached. Ity implied metal to metal. That wouldn't seem to be a necessary factor if such a float was made of glass.

Why not? A glass toilet float could still fill with water without this patented connection.

The toilet rod screws into the patented part instead of piercing the float. Im looking at the broken glass and I see no threaded hole (pierce) or opening. Below is a glass toilet float ( maybe different).

 

[AU24K]

Re: Glass & Brass

My first thought was a lamp finial with a fancy glass topper, but....
It's possible that it is a glass float attached somehow to the brass threaded part. How it would be attached to the glass is hard to figure without seeing it in person. Maybe a waterproof epoxy of some sort?
Don't think it's a door knob--the hole with the threads has to be bigger, almost the size diameter of a pencil. There would also be a set screw or hole for one on the collar.
Scott

 

[johnnyi]

Re: Glass & Brass

You are right big cyprus. My brain just froze there for a minute I think.

 

[wolcottdigger]

Re: Glass & Brass

I can't find anything on the internet about glass toilet floats
but I did read some about glass floats for fuel tanks and oil tanks.
I still can't find any photos or more than a brief mention of glass
floats, maybe an unsolvable mystery. Man i'm bored I wish I was
out detecting!
Joe
Hey bigcypresshunter where did you find that picture of a glass toilet float.
Your right the glass is not pierced by anything the patented part wraps around
a bulge in the glass.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Glass & Brass

http://cgi.ebay.com/Old-Glass-Toile...rden?hash=item4cea89b76e&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

 

[wolcottdigger]

Re: Glass & Brass

Hey Bigcypresshunter,
I think you got it with that picture of a glass toilet float
In the picture you found it looks like the glass float might
screw into plastic part. The thing I found is permanently
attached to the float and then screw's onto some kind
of rod. I think they do the same job just in different ways.
Joe

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Glass & Brass

Hey Bigcypresshunter,
I think you got it with that picture of a glass toilet float
In the picture you found it looks like the glass float might
screw into plastic part. The thing I found is permanently
attached to the float and then screw's onto some kind
of rod. I think they do the same job just in different ways.
Joe

Yes I agree. Yours is a patented device to prevent the float (metal or glass) from ever filling with water and becoming useless.